Behind the Markets Podcast

Markets on Edge: Oil and AI Crosscurrents

Show from 03/13/26 Host Jeremy Schwartz and the WisdomTree team begin the episode discussing the surge in oil prices tied to tensions in the Middle East and how higher energy costs could affect consumers, transportation, and global supply chains. They also examine stress signals in private credit markets, the divergence between private equity firms and the broader S&P 500, and the recent rotation away from mega-cap tech despite improving valuations. The group closes the segment with a discussion on emerging AI themes like agentic AI and robotics, semiconductor capacity constraints, and how investors may rebalance portfolios after energy’s strong performance while looking for opportunities in areas like Japan, industrials, and consumer discretionary. (31:51) Professor Siegel joins Jeremy to share his outlook on the recent oil shock and its impact on markets, noting that while higher gasoline prices may weigh on sentiment and cause short-term volatility, real oil prices remain near long-term averages. He also explains why the Federal Reserve is unlikely to react to a supply-driven oil shock, expects policy to remain on hold for now, and reiterates his long-term optimism for equities and the continued growth of AI. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Weak Payrolls, a Productivity Boom, and Disruptive Tech

Show from 03/06/26 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss the surprisingly weak payroll report and how it contrasts with strong economic indicators like ISM data and retail sales, with the Professor suggesting rising productivity—potentially driven by AI—may explain how GDP remains strong with little job growth. They also review geopolitical tensions involving Iran, rising oil prices, and the Strait of Hormuz, with Siegel noting energy shocks could pressure markets but would not likely change the Fed’s near-term policy stance. (18:13) Jeremy continues with Sam Rines and Jeff Wenniger to analyze the oil spike, global geopolitics, and labor market data, including how weather disruptions and strikes may distort the jobs report and lead to a rebound in March employment. The group also discusses China’s economic outlook, energy constraints, and broader investment themes such as international defense spending and innovation cycles outside the U.S. The episode concludes with Jeremy interviewing Ian De Bode of Ando Finance and WisdomTree’s Maredith Hannon about tokenization, stablecoins, and how blockchain-based financial rails could reshape investing, trading hours, and global access to U.S. financial markets. Ian De Bode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idebode/ Maredith Hannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maredith-hannon/ WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

AI is Not An Apocalypse

Show from 02/27/26 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss Professor Siegel’s response to a viral AI “doomsday” scenario, emphasizing that productivity gains from AI would expand output, wages and leisure rather than cause mass permanent unemployment, and arguing that macroeconomic growth from higher productivity would generate trillions in new income to absorb displaced workers. He also weighs in on falling 10-year yields, recent inflation data, oil risks tied to Iran, productivity trends, and his expectation for market rotation away from the MAG 7 toward value and non-AI sectors. (13:40) Jeremy continues with Jeff Weniger and Sam Rines to debate whether AI lowers barriers to entry and enhances innovation rather than destroying knowledge work, put recent tech and software selloffs into perspective against broader market resilience, and examine global equity leadership with strong performance in Japan, Korea and Europe relative to a flat S&P 500, highlighting valuation gaps and structural underweights to non-U.S. markets in portfolios. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

The Tariff Rotation

Show from 02/20/26 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel break down the latest GDP report, PCE inflation data and housing trends, with the Professor noting that fourth quarter growth was not as weak as headlines suggested once government distortions are adjusted for and that differences between CPI and PCE components explain the recent upside surprise in inflation. He emphasizes that the Supreme Court’s pending tariff ruling and rising tensions with Iran are far more important to markets in the near term than incoming economic data, expecting continued choppiness until there is clarity on both fronts. (9:08) Following the Professor’s departure, Jeremy is joined by Sam Rines, Chris Gannatti and Jeff Weniger to react in real time to the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision striking down IEPA tariffs as illegal, discussing the implications for corporate refunds, margin expansion and sector rotation. The group examines geopolitical risks tied to Iran, the ongoing rotation into small caps and international equities, weakness in private credit and software, and valuation compression across mega-cap tech ahead of NVIDIA earnings. They also explore improving rental trends, sector leadership shifts toward value and cyclicals, and longer-term themes ranging from AI-driven physical automation to autonomous vehicles and global events like the World Cup as potential economic tailwinds. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments

Trading the Disruptions

Show from 02/13/26 Host Jeremy Schwartz and Professor Siegel discuss a strong employment report and a softer-than-expected CPI print, highlighting rising real wages, easing rental inflation, and stabilization in unemployment claims. Professor Siegel also addresses growing AI-driven market anxiety, tariff developments, and why he believes the ongoing rotation away from the MAG-7 does not derail the broader bull market. (35:13) Jeremy is joined by Jeff Wenniger, Sam Rines, and Chris Gannatti to break down major global developments, including Russia’s potential return to the dollar system, Taiwan and Singapore’s strong GDP prints, and Japan’s election results strengthening fiscal and defense tailwinds. The group explores the global defense spending supercycle, Asia’s critical role in AI supply chains, and how AI disruption fears are driving sharp rotations within U.S. equities, particularly in software. They also debate whether AI-driven margin compression, pricing competition, and shifting capital flows signal a broader geographic and sector rotation toward international markets and non-tech sectors. WisdomTree: https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments